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Thursday 7th March 2019

Women in PR NI marks milestone first year with International Women’s Day event

To mark its one-year anniversary, Women in PR Northern Ireland, has organised an afternoon event in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont on International Women’s Day, 8th March, featuring US Consul General, Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau.

In conversation with former BBC correspondent-turned PR pro Natasha Sayee, the US Consul General, who took up post six months ago, will share her experience and insights with an expected audience of around 100 local women.

Trudeau previously served as the US Department of State’s Director for Press Operations and spokesperson in Washington DC and worked as a director of communications for a private charitable foundation.

Supported by RNN Communications, the event is the culmination of a year’s work by Women in PR NI’s founders, Michelle Canning and Sara McCracken. Following a Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) session in October 2017, Michelle and Sara identified a need for a new type of organisation that would encourage peer support and personal and professional development within the communications industry in Northern Ireland.

Drawing on their own experience as senior comms consultants, Canning and McCracken created Women in PR NI, an independent initiative that has amassed the support of over 250 women in just one year.

"Following the CIPR event, many women approached myself and the other panellists with questions around personal development and peer support. It was clear that this was a conversation that needed to continue," said Canning.

"Sara and I decided that we needed to do something to effect change. We wanted to create an independent network that would explore the issues and barriers that affect women working in the communications industry, and to identify solutions. And so, Women in PR NI came into being on International Women’s Day 2018."

Over the past year, Women in PR NI has worked to enable women to fulfil their potential by delivering a bespoke programme and availing of the expertise and support of other women. McCracken said: "Michelle and I have been amazed at the level of support that Women in PR NI has received from both members and businesses over the past year. We’ve removed all barriers, including cost, and our events are regularly fully subscribed, such is the demand for this kind of network."

For further information on the event, email: womeninprni@gmail.com or contact the organisers via twitter @WomenInPRNI | RNN Communications’ new service, RNN Live will be broadcasting live from the event via RNN Comms’ social channels.